Controversy continues to haunt the Arizona House of Representatives as a result of allegations made by Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita about sexual harassment by Rep. Don Shooter. Missteps by House Speaker J.D. Mesnard, and an apparent attack on Ugenti-Rita by female colleagues has outraged lawmakers as well as the public.

On Friday, Republican representatives Maria Syms, Regina Cobb, Becky Nutt, and Jill Norgaard surprised fellow lawmakers when they sent a letter to Mesnard demanding that alleged victim, Ugenti-Rita, be stripped of her chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee.

The four lawmakers also demanded that the Democratic Caucus “take immediate action” to remove Rios as the House Minority Leader.

The four lawmakers essentially asserted that complaints made in the aftermath of Ugenti-Rita’s harassment revelation be treated as something other than retaliation. A total of eight women have come forward with allegations against Shooter, who has earned a reputation as a drunkard.

In Ugenti-Rita’s case, Shooter complained about a relationship Ugenti-Rita had with a House staff member a number of years ago while she was married. Since that time, voters have re-elected Ugenti-Rita, she has divorced, and she and the former staff member are now engaged.

The case of Rios is more complicated. She was in a position of power when she had an extra-marital relationship with a member of the House security staff. However, unlike Ugenti-Rita, it appears that Rios may have used her position to cause the man to lose his job. Rep. Ray Martinez, a political foe of Rios, filed an ethics complaint against her regarding what he described as an “inappropriate relationship.” with a House staffer.

The letter reads:

Dear Speaker Mesnard:

The recent sexual harassment allegations made by and against members of the House of Representatives are disturbing and warrant a comprehensive investigation of all material information and witnesses. Sexual harassment and misconduct is unacceptable and should not be tolerated in any workplace and most especially, in the Arizona House of Representatives where elected officials serve the public trust.

We are aware of multiple sexual misconduct allegations pending against Representatives Shooter, Ugenti-Rita and Rios. Representative Shooter, Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, has been accused of sexual harassment of a fellow Representative as well as others. Appropriately, an investigation has commenced regarding these allegations. Representative Shooter has been removed from his position as Chairman until the investigation is completed and further action, if needed, has been determined by the House.

Representative Ugenti-Rita, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, has a sexual misconduct complaint against her based on her alleged affair with a staff employee of the House as well as inappropriate sexual comments made and recorded during a public hearing. Representative Ugenti-Rita has not been removed as Chairman pending the investigation. In order to maintain equal treatment, consistency, and the integrity of House policy, Representative Ugenti-Rita should be removed from her position as Chairman until the investigation has been completed and further action, if needed, is determined by the legislature. We are requesting House leadership to take immediate action to do so.

Representative Rios, House Minority Leader, has a sexual misconduct complaint against her based on her alleged affair with a staff employee of the House who resigned his position. Representative Rios continues to serve as Minority Leader. Again, in order to maintain equal treatment, consistency, and the integrity of House policy, Representative Rios should be removed from her position of Minority Leader until the investigation has been completed and further action, if needed, has been determined by the legislature. We are requesting House Democratic Caucus leadership to take immediate action to do so.

It is disappointing that these allegations have come to light regarding our House colleagues and that taxpayer dollars and valuable resources are being expended to investigate the allegations against Representatives Shooter, Ugenti-Rita and Rios. We believe that the process and policy for addressing these allegations and any resulting accountability should be equal and consistent with respect to all of these individuals. Should the current allegations of sexual misconduct be verified as to any of the individuals, we request leadership to move to exercise appropriate authorized discipline against such individuals, up to and including expulsion proceedings.

House Representatives serve the public and should not abuse their position by exerting power and influence over others, especially through sexual misconduct. Sexual harassment, sexual assault and sexual relations with House staff should not be tolerated under any circumstance.

Rep. Kelly Townsend immediately questioned the demands in a tweet:

The AZ House has no policy that prohibits a consensual relationship between Legislators and staff. It is therefore a private issue and it is inappropriate to use State resources to “investigate.” Enact a policy & then investigate, otherwise leave it to the voters to determine.

Townsend and other House members were outraged this week when Mesnard announced his unilateral decision to use House funds to cover the legal costs incurred by Shooter, Rios, Martinez, and Ugenti-Rita.

Townsend issued a statement following Mesnard’s move: “It has come to my attention today that the House of Representatives will be providing for the legal defense of Mr. Shooter in the sexual harassment claims he is now facing. I was not consulted, nor played a role on any level in this decision. I believe it is wholly inappropriate for the taxpayers to have to provide for a defense that has nothing to do with the business of the people. I oppose this idea and hope that the decision is reversed immediately.”

Rep. Mark Finchem stated, “This has not been “approved” by many members and frankly I am disgusted and outraged by this action.”

4 Comments

What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. But if we let this firestorm continue the legislative chambers will soon be vacant and apparently it’ll be without security staff as well.
The state capital is quickly becoming fertile ground for the plot of a new soap opera.
Perhaps if our elected officials could simply sober up and put their clothes back on they’d have more to time to be productive in getting the people’s business done.
It’s really said that when cream raises to the top these floating turds are making laws that impact everyone.

Arizona has long been rated as one of the worst state legislators in the country this garbage is no surprise.

It is my understanding Speaker Mesnard has never held a position out of the Arizona legislature so why wouldn’t he think he can do whatever he wants with taxpayer money. Also what would make you think he wouldn’t protect the legislators just like the US Congress.

We can only hope that the voters start to educate themselves about who we vote for. The easiest question to ask is why does the Donor Party want this person to be elected so badly, that they funnel huge amounts of money to the candidates of their choice? The process is too long, thus too expensive. Term limits is the only way now, to Drain The Swamp. Maybe after sitting out a term or two they can reapply for the job.

It is incomprehensible that with the current national concern with sexual and other abuses of power in government, the Republican leadership in the AZ legislature is not acting the part of leaders and cleaning up their messes in this regard once and for all and then instituting the necessary transparent administrative processes to effectively address and thus minimize such abuses in the future. The usual Democrat Party response to these types of issues, “sensitivity training” of some sort is NOT an acceptable option. If these men and women cannot tell right from wrong, they are either too dumb to be in office and if they just refuse to act with integrity they need to be thrown out of office and the legislature should not be wasting taxpayer money on such bogus “training. “If the GOP leaders fail the citizens of AZ in this regard, they must be thrown out of office and any Party leadership positions. It is time to excise, not just drain, the swampland as much as humanly possible throughout the political and governmental landscape of America.